Tarpaulin-rack.



. :.,fglllllll No. 789,982. PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

B. E. LOCKETT.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7] awww/vbo@ @www @me o @5l l- Patented. May 16, 1905.

"PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN EDWIN LOOKETT, OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI.

` TA'RPAULlN-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,982, dated May 16, 1905.

Application iiled August 16, 1904:. Serial No. 220,984.

To all 'whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN EDWIN Lock- E'IT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jefferson City", in the county of Cole and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Tarpaulin-Rack, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a tarpaulin-rack.

The object of thepresent invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive tarpaulin-rack designed for protecting various goods, wares, and merchandise from dust, sun, rain, and the like and adapted forvuse both indoors and outdoors and capable of enabling tarpaulin toy be handled more easily and effectively than heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to proinvention consists inthe construction andi novel combination and arrangement of Vparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inv the vclaims hereto appended, it'being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tarpaulin-rack constructed in accordance with this invention, the tarpaulin curtains or covers being rolled up. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, the curtains being unrolled. Fig. 3 is a sectional View, the legs of the frame being folded. Fig. 4 is a plan View, the top plate or roof being removed. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one end of the tarpaulin-rack, the parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail View showing one side of the frame folded.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The tarpaulin-rack comprises a foldable supporting-frame 1 and a superimposed casing 2, which is removably seated on the supporting-frame for enabling a pair of top tarpaulin curtains or covers 3 to be used independently of the frame and of end tarpaulincurtains fl, which are mounted on the same. The foldable frame is provided with end pieces 5, to whichv are pivoted the upper ends of legs 6, which are adapted to` fold inwardly, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The upper ends of the legs are arranged between the end pieces 5 and inner horizontal end bars 7, which are secured to the end pieces by bolts 8. The bolts 8 also pass through the upper ends of the legs and form the pivots for the same. The end pieces, the horizontal bars, and the legs constitute the ends of the frame, which are connected by foldable side bars 9, each of which is pivoted `at one end by a bolt 10 to one of the horizontal side bars and has its other end detachably secured to the other horizontal side bar by a bolt or screw 11. The pivoted'ends of the foldable side bars are rounded and are located at opposite ends of the frame, so that each end of the frame will carry one of the side bars when the parts are folded, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The ends of the frame are readily unfolded and set up for use, and suitable anchor or guy ropes may be employed, if desired.

The end pieces 5 of the frame are provided at opposite sides with recesses 12 for the reception of connecting-rods13 of the casing 2, which is provided with end pieces arranged on the outer faces of the end pieces 5 of the supporting-frame- When the casing is placed on the supporting-frame, it is preferably secured thereto by means of screws 14, as indicated in Fig. 1; but these may be omitted, if

desired. The end pieces of the casing are preferably provided with curved upper edges, to which are secured a top plate or roof 15, which is constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and a central connectingbar 16 is also preferably employed when the roof is used. The roof is used when the tarpaulin-rack is used outdoors; but when used indoors in warehouses, stores, and the like for protecting goods from dust, oil, &c., the roof or plate and the central connecting-bar 16 may be omitted. When the roof or plate and the central connecting-bar are omitted, the top curtains or covers may be crossed to entirely cover the top of the rack. rl`he top curtains or covers are preferably mounted on spring-actuated rollers 17, similar to an ordinary spring curtain-roller; but in racks where the tarpaulin-covers are too heavy for springs, cranks or other operating devices may be employed for rotating the rollers for winding up the curtains or covers. The top curtains or covers are adapted to be unwound and drawn downward, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to cover the top and sides of the rack,

and the connecting side rods 13 are arranged to support the curtains between the rollers 17 and the side bars 9 of the frame.

, The ends of the frame are covered by the curtains 4, which may be mounted in any desired manner, either upon rollers similar to the top covers or curtains or they may he secured at one' edge to the end pieces 5 and be rolled up, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings. Suitable straps 18 are provided for securing the end curtains when the same are rolled up. When the end curtains are released, they will automatically unroll.

The rack is adapted to be placed over the goods to be covered, and it will form an inclosure for the same and entirely exclude dust, rain, or sun. It forms an effective tent, and it is also adapted to have the legs folded, as shown in Fig. 3, to enable it to be arranged iiat upon the ground or upon the goods to be covered. The device is capable of advantageous use in stores, warehouses, and especially for covering piles of goods or shelves open at both sides. The device may be employed on cars or vessels or in the field. It is capable of enabling' tarpaulin to behandled more convenientl y than heretofore. Vhen not in use, the tarpaulin is protected, and is arranged in convenient position for instant use. Also it will enable tarpaulin to last much longer than 'when used in the ordinary manner. Any

suitable material may be employed for malring the curtains or covers.

The invention is of special value for use in a shoe-factory for the protection of shoes when finishing the same. times its cost.

Having thus fully described my invention,

It will save many what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tarpaulin-rack, comprising a loldable supporting-frame, a casing carried by the frame, and curtains or covers mounted on both the frame and the casing and arranged to be rolled up when not in use and capable of independent use.

2. A tarpauliu-rack, comprising a foldable supporting-frame, a casing removably mounted on the supporting-frame and adapted to be detached for independent use, and curtains or covers mounted on the casing and on the frame.

3. A tarpaulin-rach, comprising a casil'lg, a foldable frame receiving the casing and composed of end pieces, ioldable legs pivoted to the end pieces and foldable side bars pivotally connected with the said end pieces, and curtains or covers carried by'the rack.

4. A tarpaulin-rack, comprising a casing, a foldable frame receiving the casing and composed of end pieces, end bars spaced from the end pieces, foldable legs mounted between the end bars and the end pieces and foldable side bars connected with the end bars, and curtains or covers mounted on the rack.

5. A tarpaulin-rack, comprisinga foldable supporting frame, a casing seated on the frame, end curtains mounted on the frame and arranged to cover the ends thereof, and top curtains or covers carried by the casing and arranged to cover the top and sides ol.' the rack.

6. A tarpaulin-rack, comprising a frame provided with notches, a casing having' rods removably seated in the notches, and top curtains or covers mounted on the casing and supported, when extended, by the said rods.

7. A tarpaulin-racl, comprising a frame, a casing removably mounted on the frame and composed of end pieces, rods connecting the end pieces and removably engaging the frame and a top plate or roof mounted on the end pieces, and top curtains or covers carried by the casing.

8. A tarpaulin-racl, comprising a supporting-frame provided with opposite notches, a casing removably seated on the frame and composed of end pieces, side rods connecting the end pieces and removably seated in the notches, a bar located between the rods and secured to the end pieces and a roof or plate carried by the end pieces, and curtains or covers mounted on the casing at opposite sides of the said bar and supported, when extended, by the rods.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN EINVIN LOUIUC'IT.

litnessesz FnN'roN E. LUolin'r'r, JUNIUs hun TIO 

